Cloth-cutting machine.



F. J. CLARK. CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1907. 91 O, 1 72. Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEBT8-SHEET 1.

I. J. CLARK. .QL TH' CUTTING MACHINE. APYLIOATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1607.

910,172. Patented Jan.19,1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

FREDERICK J. CLARK, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN MACHINE COMPANY,

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CLOTH-CUTTING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed. September 6, 1907. Serial No. 391,589.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cloth-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention relates more particularly to portable cloth cutting machines having reciprocating motor-operated knives for cutting the cloth.

One of the objects of the invention is to so construct a machine of this character that the motor shaft will be arranged lengthwise of the machine and the cross head for the knife will be below and in the vertical plane of the motor shaft and connected therewith and will be arranged fore and aft of the machine in guide ways, one in front of the other, thereby giving an unobstructive View of the cloth in front of the knife to the operator of the machine and greatly simplifying the construction and producing a more evenly balanced and better appearing machine.

Heretofore it has been customary in machines of this character, to arrange the cross head and its guide ways crosswise of the machine as distinguished from lengthwise. In such construction, when the motor shaft is arranged lengthwise of the machine, the cross head and its guide ways with their supports materially increase the width of the front of the machine directly above the knife and interfere with the operators view of the To overcome this, machines have been constructed with the motor shaft arranged crosswise of the machine and extending to one side of the standard, but this construction produces a one-sided and unevenly balanced machine. In a machine according to the present invention, the lengthwise arrangement of the motor shaft is retained and the cross head and guide ways for the knife are also arranged lengthwise of the machine and are located above the knife and somewhat to one side of the standard.

Other objects of the invention are to provide adjusting means for the guide ways of the cross head, which can be readily operated, whereby the cross head can be secured in place between them and the guide ways adj usted to take up any wear of the parts without changing the position of the cross head;

to provide a yielding bearing for the sup porting rollers of the machine so constructed that the rollers can be readily removed for cleaning; to pivotally secure the cloth-lifting heel and toe plates to the base of the machine in such a manner that they can be easily disconnected therefrom; to provide a flexible support for the lamp of the machine to lessen the vibration thereof when the machine is being operated; and to generally simplify and improve the construction and operation of cloth-cutting machines in the manner hereinafter more specifically described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a cloth cutting machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the base thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the bearing plates for the supporting rollers. Fig. 1- is a top plan view of the lamp and its support. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of portions of the base and one of the cloth-lifting plates. Fig. 6 is a front sectional elevation of the machine on line 66, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view thereof, on line 77, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the adjusting means for the guide ways for the cross head. Fig. 9 is a cross section of the same, on an enlarged scale, on line 99, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a cross section of the same on line l0l0, Fig. 8.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the foot or base of a cloth cutting machine, B the standard, C the motor-supporting frame carried by the standard, D the motor, and E the reciprocating knife driven by the motor and adapted to reciprocate in a guide slot in the standard. The motor D has a shaft (Z journaled in the frame C lengthwise of the machine, and pro vided at its forward end with a suitable crank or crank head F connected by a rod or pitman f with the knife cross-head. A suitable casing f incloses the crank head F and the upper portion of the pitman f, having a rearwardly opening slotat its bottom through which the pitman passes. This casing is removably secured to the frame G by oppositely extending hooks or slotted lugs f at the top and bottom thereof which engage headed screws f secured in the frame C. By loosening the screws f and partially turning the casing f it will be released, when it can be pulled forwardly off of the machine. The casing f protects the inclosed parts from dirt and also protects the operator from injury.

G represents the cross head for the knife. This cross head is preferably provided with front and rear vertical V-shaped edges which engage and reciprocate in correspondingly shaped ways in guide blocks H and H arranged one in front of the other lengthwise of the machine. The frame C has a forward extension J above and at one side of the standard B, and the guide blocks are secured to one side of this extension by screws j which pass through horizontal slots j in the extension.

Suitable means are provided for adjusting the guide blocks H and H toward and from the knife cross-head. In the construction shown (see Figs. 8, 9 and 10), the guide blocks are provided on the sides thereof adjacent to the frame extension J with lugs 71. h at their upper and lower ends which extend through horizontal slots in this extension. The upper and lower'pairs of lugs are connected by adjusting screws K having right and left screw threads on opposite ends thereof engaging in correspondinglythreaded openings in the ends of the lugs 7b of the rear guide block H and internally threaded nuts 7L secured in the lugs h" of the front guide block H. The adjusting screws K have enlargements suitably fashioned for the engagement of a tool or wrench, and these enlargements engage in vertical slots 72, in the frame extension J for holding the screws from endwise movement when turned. By turning the adjusting screw one way or the other the guide blocks can be adjusted toward or from the cross head as required.

In order to permit a separate independent adjustment of the guide blocks for the purpose of securing the cross-head in its proper position between them, the lugs it of the front guide blocir are split at their ends and the nuts 7L2 are clamped between the split portions of the lugs by clamping screws it. When the nuts are clamped and held from turning in the lugs, any rotation of the adjusting screws produces a corresponding movement of both guide blocks.

When the clamping screws h are released the split ends of the lugs separate sufficiently to allow the nuts [L2 to turn with the adjusting screws and thus prevent movement of the forward guide block. This allows the adjusting screws to be turned to separately adjust the rear guide block without causing any movement of the front guide block. The nuts 72, are provided with suitable heads 7?, Figs. 8 and 9, by which they can be turned on the adjusting screws K and which are adapted to engage the sides of the split lugs 7L. lVhen the rear guide block has been adjusted to engage the cross head, the nuts k are screwed up on the adjusting screws K to move the front guide block into engagement with. the crosshead. This enables the cross head to be located in its proper position above the knife and the guide blocks adjusted to engage the cross head and hold the same in such position.

After the guide blocks have been adjusted into proper engagement with the cross head, the screws are tightened to hold the same firmly in position upon the frame extension J. In operating the machine, the operator generally guides the machine with his right hand and therefore stands on the left side of the machine. The frame extension is accordingly located so that it extends in front of the machine at the right of the standard in order that the extension and the adjusting means. for the guide blocks carried thereby are on the side of the machine opposite to the operator and thus do not obstruct his view of the knife and the cloth in front of the same.

L represents the usual presser foot secured to the front of the frame extension and Z the usual finger screw for adjusting the same. The base of the machine is of ordinary form except as hereinafter described, comprising the main base plate A having beveled side edges, and spring-pressed clothlifting heel and toe plates M M hinged to the main plate. These cloth-lifting plates, on their underside, are provided with suitable lugs m having adjacent to the base A open-bottomed slots m therein adapted to receive hinge pins m connecting suitable pairs of hinge ears m formed integral wit-h the base A at each end thereof. Suitable screws m are countersunk into the hinge lugs m and their heads serve to hold the hinge pins m in the slots in the hinge lugs m and at the same time allow the heel and toe plates to, swing on the hinges thus formed. By releasing the screws m the heel and toe plates M M may be readily disconnected from the base plate A. As usual, springs n n are provided for pressing the toe and heel plates down on the support upon which the machine rests.

The base is provided with supporting rollers O, which, as usual, are capable of yielding to absorb the vibrations produced by the reciprocating knife so that the machine will rest gently on and move smoothly over the cutting table. The rollers are yieldingly mounted on the base preferably as follows, see Figs. 2, 3 and 5. Spring bearing plates or strips 7) (see Fig. 3) of thin metal are arranged in pairs on the underside of the base A extending lengthwise thereof. These plates are oppositely disposed and each pair is centrally secured to the base A by a screw 10 which passes through suitable semi-circular openings in each plate. The plates of each. pair are recessed at their inner sides near their ends, thereby forming openings p for the rollers O, and are provided at their outer sides adjacent to the openings with upturned bearing lugs p which are connected by pins p upon which the rollers are journaled. The plates 32 have suitable holes 7) between their point of attachment to the base plate A, and the rollers, and posts p depending from the base into said holes hold the plates from turning laterally on the attaching screw p but do not interfere with the vertical cushioning movements of the bearing plates. Openings 72 in the base plate A over the rollers permit the rollers to yield or spring upwardly.

1 represent elastic blocks or cushions which are confined in seats in the underside of the base plate A and depend therefrom into engagement with the free ends of the bearing plates 3) to prevent the latter from striking the base when flexed. The weight of the machine is carried by these cushions q and as the bearing plates 29 are capable of vertical movement, these plates are free to respond to the compression and expansion of these cushions. A yielding support or cushion is thus provided for the base of the machine which serves to greatly decrease any jar caused by moving the machine over uneven surfaces, and prevents the vibrations of the machine when in motion from being communicated to the rollers. The screw 7) serves at all times to hold the bearing plates 7) in contact with the cushions q and in engagement with the guide posts p. To remove the rollers from the base for cleaning and other purposes, it is only necessary to remove the attaching screws p, and detach the bearing plates. The rollers and the hearing plates can then be readily cleaned.

To enable the operator to more clearly see the pattern on the cloth he is cutting, an incandescent lamp R is suspended from an arm 1' pivotally secured to a bracket r which extends forwardly from the frame C. The arm 1' is capable of swinging horizontally so that the lamp B may be located in front or at either side of the knife as may be desired. Instead of being secured directly and rigidly to its supporting arm, the lamp It is suspended therefrom by its conductor wires r These wires pass through an opening in the end of the arm '1' and are held suspended therein by a rubber ring or collar 1' which embraces the lamp conductors and bears on the edges of the opening in the supporting arm. The ring 1* tightly grips the conductors and can be moved up or down thereon to secure the lamp at the proper height. Any other suitable means for supporting the conductor wires may be employed. A flexible support for the lamp is thus obtained and only a small part of the vibrations of the machine are communicated through this support to the lamp. A much steadier light is produced and the life of the lamp is greatly lengthened, as when a rigid support is employed, the rapid vibration of the lamp soon causes its filament to break and thus destroys its usefulness.

A guard wire S is suspended from the arm '1" and loosely embraces the base of the lamp to prevent undue oscillation thereof, and a metallic reflector s partly surrounds the bulb of the lamp to throw the light therefrom downwardly upon the pattern or cloth and also serves as a shield to prevent the bulb from being broken by coming into contact with any part of the machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a base, a standard mounted 011 said base, a motor supported by said standard and having its shaft arranged lengthwise of the machine, a knife guided in said standard, a cross head secured to said knife and reciprocated by said motor, said cross head being substantially parallel with said shaft, and upright guide ways for said cross head arranged in front and in rear thereof in a ver tical plane parallel with the vertical plane of said shaft and said cross head, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a base, a standard mounted on said base, a motor supported by said standard and having its shaft arranged lengthwise of the machine, a knife guided in said standard. a cross head connecting said knife and said motor shaft and arranged with its greatest width lengthwise of the machine and substantially parallel with said shaft, and upright guide ways for said cross head arranged in front and in rear thereof in a vertical plane parallel with the plane of said shaft and said cross head, substantially as set forth.

3. I11 a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a base, a standard mounted on said base, a motor supported by said standard and having its shaft arranged lengthwise of the machine, a knife guided in said standard, a cross head secured to said knife and reciprocated by said motor, said cross head and said knife being arranged substantially parallel with each other and in the vertical plane of said standard, upright uide ways arranged in front and in rear of said cross head in the vertical lane of said standard, and a support to which said guide-ways are secured arranged at one side of the vertical plane of said standard, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a base, a standard mounted on said base, a motor supported by said standard and having its shaft arranged lengthwise of the machine, a knife guided in said standard, a cross head secured to said knife and recip- &

rocated by said motor, said cross head and said knife being arranged substantially parallel with each other and in the vertical plane of said. standard, upright guide-ways arranged in front and in rear of said cross iead in the vertical plane of said standard, and a support arranged at one side of the vertical plane of said standard, to one side of which support said guide-ways are secured, and adjusting means for said guide-ways aranged 011 the opposite side of said support, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a base, a standard mounted on said base, a motor supported by said standard and having its shaft arranged lengthwise of the machine, a knife guided in said stand-- ard, a cross-head secured to said knife and reciprocated by said motor, and upright guiding means for said cross-head arranged in front and in rear thereof and substantially to one side of the vertical plane of said knife whereby said guiding means do not obstruct the view of the knife on the opposite side of the machine, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a base, a standard mounted on said base, a motor supported by said standard, a knife guided by said standard, a cross head secured to said knife and reciprocated by said motor, a support, guide ways for said cross head at one side of said support and having lugs extending through holes in said support, and an adjusting screw for said guide ways connecting said lugs at the opposite side of said support, substantially as set forth.

7. In a cloth cutting machine, a reciprocating cross-head for the knife, guide ways for the cross-head, an adjusting screw having a threaded engagement with one guide way, a nut mounted on the other guide way and having a threaded engagement with said adjusting screw, and means for holding said nut from rotation and releasing it at will, substantially as set forth.

8. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a frame, a shaft journaled in said frame and provided at one end with a crank, a knife, a pitman connecting said knife and said crank, a separate removable casing inclosing said crank and having a slot through which said pitman passes which slot is open at one side for the passage of said pitman in removing said casing, and interlocking means between said casing and said frame for detachably securing said casing thereto, substantially as set forth.

9. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a base, a spring-bearing plate, rollers journaled in the opposite ends of said bearing plate, elastic cushions between the ends of said bearing plate and said base adjacent to said rollers for holding said bearing plate out of contact with said base, and means centrally located between said rollers for holding said bearing plate in engagement with said cushions and detachably securing said bearing plate to said base, substantially as set forth.

10. In a cloth cutting machine, the combi nation of a base, a spring bearing plate, rollers journaled in the opposite ends of said bearing plate, a screw passing centrally through said bearing plate for detachably securing it to said base whereby said bearing plate and said rollers may be removed from said base as a unit, guide studs secured to said'base and engaging said bearing plate, and elastic cushions between the ends of said bearing plate and said base, substantially as set forth.

11. In a cloth cutting machine, a base plate, a cloth-lifting plate, and a hinge connection for said plates comprising a hinge lug on one plate provided with an open bottom slot, hinge lugs on said other plate connected by a hinge pin which is seated in said slot, and a headed screw secured to said slotted lug with its head engaging said hinge pin to hold the same therein, substantially as set forth.

12. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a lamp, a support therefor on said machine, flexible conductors connecting said lamp with the source of current in the machine and secured in said support to hold said lamp suspended therefrom, and a guard for said lamp secured in said support, substantially as set forth.

13. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a lamp, a support therefor pivotally secured to said machine, flexible conductors connecting said lamp with the source of current in the machine and secured in --said support to hold said lamp suspended therefrom, and a guard for said lamp secured in said support, substantially as set forth.

itness my hand, this 29th day of August,

FREDERICK J. CLARK. Witnesses E. G. HARD. C. B. HORNBECK. 

